Silo.



iF.. W. SMITH.

SILO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, I913.

W/ Til E8858 INVE/I/TUR Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

UNIT @Ad ll @h h lmi SILO.

Application filed November 25, 1913.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,FRED W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baymore, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to silos, and has for its principal object toprovide a device of this character which may be constituted of light and inexpensive material, which may be easily and quickly erected, and which may be braced to prevent collapses from wind pressure or buckling from internal pressure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide improved hoop construction for holding the staves in place, together with other improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a silo constructed according to my invention. Fig. II is a plan view of. the same. Fig. III is an enlarged detail perspective of the upper portion of the silo, showing the door frame and door.

Referring more in detail to the parts :1 designates the corner posts of a bracing frame comprising, in addition to the posts, the cross-bars 2 which are supported on the top of the posts and have segments 3 cuttherefrom to receive the portion of the silo against which the respective members are adapted to abut; the segments of the crossbars having, as continuations, like segments 4 in corner strips 5, which are secured to the cross-bars and form an integral part of the brace. The brace also preferably comprises the stiffening members 6, which are secured to the corner posts and cross-bars 2 and impart rigidity to the entire structure.

Fixed to the cross-bars 2 and corner strips 5 are the staves 7 of the silo proper, which are preferably formed of wooden strips hav ing tongue and groove connection to form an airtight inclosure.

The staves 7 are contlnuous around the body of the silo, but are spaced at one posi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Serial No. 803,034.

tion to form a door opening; the edges of the staves adjacent the opening being rigidly and permanently secured to upright frame members 9, which preferably overlie the outer faces of the strips and project inwardly beyond the longitudinal edges thereof to form shoulders 10 against which the boards for closing the door opening may lie.

In order to hold the structure to the circular formation, I connect the frame members 9 by bars 12, which extend transversely through the members and have nuts 13 threaded onto their outer ends and bearing against washers 14 that lie against the outer edges of the members, so that the latter are held against the expanding tension of the silo due to any tendency of the structure to straighten itself, or on-account of outward pressure whenthe silo is filled with ensilage.

In order to hold the door frame members apart, I provide each of the latter with hooks 15 having shanks 16 projected transversely therethrough and provided with washers 18 and nuts 17, which latter lie against the inner faces of the frame members, so as to hold the frame against outward tension. I arrange the hooks 15 in pairs and connect same with wire cables 19, which extend around the silo, and not only hold the door frame members apart, but also hold the staves from buckling.

As it is desirable to allow the outer brace to engage the silo throughout its entire circumference, I preferably arrange the door opening at one corner of the brace and form pockets 21 in the corner bar 5, into which the frame members may project, in order that I may maintain the circumferential contact of the silo with the brace throughout the remainder of the structure.

In order to close the door opening, I provide strips 23, of such length that they may fit between the edges of the staves at opposite sides of the door opening and lie against the shoulders 10 of the door frame when piiessed outwardly by material within the s1 0.

In order to provide an air-tight closure for the door opening I preferably line the strips 23, and adjacent staves, with building paper, or the like, 24, which is preferably applied to the opening as the silo is'being filled with ensilage.

A top of any suitable or desired construction (not shown) may be provided, although none is required in actual use of the silo.

In constructing the silo, I preferably form may be nailed, and attach the corner strips 5 thereto, so that when a circle, having a diameter equal to the exterior diameter of the silo, is marked on the side and corner .members of the brace, a complete circle may be formed on the brace members. This circle is then cut out to form the nailing surface a of the brace and is raised'on the corner posts to a height substantially two-thirds of the height of the silo. The staves are then erected Within the brace in tongue and groove relation and nailed permanently to the face of the circle formed in the side and corner'menibers of the brace; the door frame members being attached to the staves which have been spaced to form the door opening. If desired, a foundation may be provided for the staves, or the latter may be erected directly on the ground. When the staves and door frame members are in place, the bars 12, are. tightened to aline the frame members, and the Wire hoops connected with the hooks l5 and the nuts '17 tightened to draw the frame members apart and tighten the staves, so that they may be held to the proper formation.

When the silo is to be filled, the door boards are placed against the inner shoulders of the frame members and the building paper, or other lining, laid against the door boards and over the edges of the adjacent staves, so that material filled into the silo Will lie against the building paper and press same against the door boards to hold the boards in place and form an air-tight seal over the door opening; itbeing apparent that the upper door boards may be filled in and'the paper applied as the filling of the silo progresses.

When the ensilage is to be used, the boards 23 may be removed over the top of the censilage, and preserved to be used When the silo is refilled.

It is apparent that with a silo of this construction the exterior brace will hold the silo firmly in position against strong winds,

and that by nailing the staves to the brace,

buckling or caving of the staves is obviated. It is also apparent, that if necessary the staves may be tightened or loosened by manipulation of the nuts on the hooks and cross-bars at the door position. It is further apparent that the bars 12 may not only serve the purpose of holding the door frame members in place, but may also be used as ladder rungs \vhereon a person may climb to the top of the silo.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure inner edges thereof, a corner member secured across each corner of said frame, and having a segment cut from the inner edge and adapted to register with the frame members to form a circular opening, a plurality of abutting staves permanently secured to the face of said circular opening to form a cylindrical inclosure, and hoops encircling said cylindrical inclosure on each side of said frame.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of tWo Witnesses.

FRED \V. SMITH.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. Cars, L. E. COATS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

